diff --git a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/protocol.rs b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/protocol.rs
index bf098e6a..16bbee20 100644
--- a/hive-matrix-mcp/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/hive-matrix-mcp/src/protocol.rs
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn send_redact_round_trips_with_optional_reason() {
+    fn send_redact_round_trips_with_reason() {
         let req = DaemonRequest {
             account: None,
             op: DaemonOp::SendRedact {
@@ -306,6 +306,24 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn send_redact_round_trips_without_reason() {
+        let req = DaemonRequest {
+            account: None,
+            op: DaemonOp::SendRedact {
+                room: "!r:s".to_owned(),
+                event_id: "$e".to_owned(),
+                reason: None,
+            },
+        };
+        let line = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
+        let back: DaemonRequest = serde_json::from_str(&line).unwrap();
+        match back.op {
+            DaemonOp::SendRedact { reason, .. } => assert_eq!(reason, None),
+            other => panic!("wrong variant: {other:?}"),
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn unit_variant_op_parses_inside_envelope() {
         // A bare op with no fields still parses when wrapped.